MCP Desktop Automation MCP Server

Model Context Protocol server for desktop automation

Local serverstdio

What is the MCP Desktop Automation MCP server?

Most browser automation work still happens through a UI a human drives. MCP Desktop Automation MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. Model Context Protocol server for desktop automation.

The short version

A Model Context Protocol server that provides desktop automation capabilities using RobotJS and screenshot capabilities. This server enables LLMs to control mouse movements, keyboard inputs, and capture screenshots of the desktop environment.

  • Desktop mouse control
  • Keyboard input simulation
  • Screen size detection
  • Screenshot capabilities
  • Simple JSON response format

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 11 tools. What each one is for:

  • get_screen_size — Gets the screen dimensions
  • screen_capture — Captures the current screen content
  • keyboard_press — Presses a keyboard key or key combination
  • Inputs — - key (string, required): Key to press (e.g., 'enter', 'a', 'control')
  • keyboard_type — Types text at the current cursor position
  • Input — text (string, required): Text to type
  • mouse_click — Performs a mouse click
  • mouse_move — Moves the mouse to specified coordinates
  • Permissions — When first running Claude Desktop with this server, you may need to grant these permissions in your operating system's security settings
  • Tools — The Tools tool exposed by this server
  • Resources — 1. Screenshot List (screenshot://list) - Lists all available screenshots by name

What it needs from you

  • Node.js (>=14.x)

Getting it running

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

How it compares

Plenty of browser automation servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. MCP Desktop Automation's toolset — get_screen_size, screen_capture, keyboard_press and 8 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by tanob; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 11 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch MCP Desktop Automation.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
get_screen_sizeGets the screen dimensions
screen_captureCaptures the current screen content
keyboard_pressPresses a keyboard key or key combination
Inputs- key (string, required): Key to press (e.g., 'enter', 'a', 'control')
keyboard_typeTypes text at the current cursor position
Inputtext (string, required): Text to type
mouse_clickPerforms a mouse click
mouse_moveMoves the mouse to specified coordinates
PermissionsWhen first running Claude Desktop with this server, you may need to grant these permissions in your operating system's security settings.
ToolsThe Tools tool exposed by this server.
Resources1. **Screenshot List** (screenshot://list) - Lists all available screenshots by name

How to install the MCP Desktop Automation MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "desktop-automation": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-desktop-automation"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

  • Node.js (>=14.x)

Example prompts to try

  • Use MCP Desktop Automation to get screen size.
  • Use MCP Desktop Automation to screen capture.
  • Use MCP Desktop Automation to keyboard press.

Frequently asked questions

It connects MCP Desktop Automation to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 11 tools (get_screen_size, screen_capture, keyboard_press, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with MCP Desktop Automation directly.